Machine for use in the manufacture of covered heels



' Au 16, 1932. W, H, NUTT 1,372,324

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COVERED HEELS Filed Feb. 27, 1928 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. NU'IT, or BEVERLYQMASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoa r0 unrrnn snonum CHINERY CORPORATION, orrnrnnson, 'NEWJ'EBSEY, a CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COVERED .HEELS Application filed l'sebruary 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,412.-

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of covered heels and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for forming a groove, slot, or channel inthe breast of a heel block to receive inturned margins of a heel cover.

In United States Letters Patent No. 1,718,177, granted June 18, 1929, on an application filed in my name,- there is disclosed a wooden Cuban heel having a one-piece GOV-.- ering for its rear, side and breast surfaces, the end portions of the covering meeting at the middle ofthe breast of the heel and being tucked into a single straight and relatively narrow groove, slot, orchannel extending from the top to the bottom of the breast of the heel block. In order to insure uniformity and symmetry in the appearance, of the covered breast faces of heels of this type, it is desirable to form the groove exactly in the middle of the heel breast and to make the groove, straight and of uniform width and depth throughout its length. It is highly important also that the grooving operation shall be performed rapidly and without adding very considerably to the expense of making the heels; It is, accordingly, one object of the present invention to provide a machine bymeans of which wooden Cuban heels or other one-piece heels may be economically provided with accurately formed grooves, slots, or channels such as grooves formed as above stated and to this end there has been provided a novel organization comprising a cutter constructed andarranged to form in the breast of a heel a substantially straight and relatively narrow heel-cover-receiving groove or channel of considerable depth, and means for supporting the heel and locating it in predeter mined relation to the cutter, the cutter and the heel supporting and locating means being mounted for movement relatively to each other for performing the heel grooving operation.

In the illustrated machine the groove form? ing means comprises a power-driven circular saw. As illustrated, also, 'a saw table or carrier is associated with the saw, the table comprising a heel supporting slide which is guided for movement toward and from the saw so that a heel resting breast facedown upon the slide will have its breast surface grooved by the saw. The illustrated slide is provided with means for locating the heel so that-its breast surface will be centered transversely with respect to the saw and for clamping the heel after it has been located, and manually operablemechanism is provided for moving the slide.

The invention further consists in features of construction and. combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

V In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is. a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention; and

The illustrated heel grooving machine comprises a base. 2 provided with bearings 4 for a horizontal shaft 6 to one end of which is fixed a circular saw. 8. The shaft 6 is adapted to be driven by a belt arranged to pass over fast and loose pulleys 10 and 12 on the shaft. A saw table or carrier 14 is located above the base 2 and in front of the saw. The table 14 comprises a stationary lower member 15 and a heel, supporting slide 24 which is mounted on'the table member 15. The table member 15 is supported by legs each consisting of a lower section 16 secured to the base 2 and an upper section 18 secured to the mem ber 15. f 'Theleg sections 16 and 18 are provided'with bolt and slot connections 20arranged to permit vertical adjustment of the saw table. For the purpose of thus adjusting the saw table 14 a plurality of thumb screws 22 are provided, the screws being threaded intosockets in the base 2 and arranged to engage the-lower surface of the table member 15. I

In order to form a heel-cover-receiving groove or channel G (Fig. 2) in the breast of a heel, the heel to be grooved, slotted, or channeled is fed past the saw 8 by means of the slide'24. As shown the slide 24 is mounted in ways 26 formed-in the portion 15 of the saw table so as to adapt the slide to move freely'in. directions at right angles to the axis of the saw. The slide 24 is slotted as shown at 28 to provide clearance for the saw. A handle 30 projecting upwardly from the slide 24 provides means for moving the slide. The range of movement of the slide is determined by the engagement of an abutment 32, adjustably secured to the slide, with a stop 34 fixed to the stationary lower portion' of the saw table. The slide 24 is adapted to support a heel by engagement 'with the breast face of the latter and provision is made for centering the heel relatively to the saw to insure that center of the" groove will coincide with the longitudinal centralgl-ine of the heel breast, and for clamping the heel tothe slide when it has been centered.

The means for centering a heel relatively to'the saw comprises two gages in the form of blocks 38 which are arranged at the forward end of the slide 24 at opposite sides of the slot 28. To enable the gage blocks 38 to be adjusted toward and from each other toaccommodate heels of different sizes the blocks, as shown, are provided with depending ears 40 which are received in slideways 42 in the slide 24. Adjustment of'the gage blocks is effected by means of rods 44 which are arranged to turn without longitudinal movement within bearings in the slide 24 and which have threaded engagement with the ears 40 on the gage blocks.

The means for clamping a heel to the slide 24 after the heel has been centered comprises a stationary but adjustable clamp member or abutment 48 adapted to engage the attaching face of a heel, and a movable clamp member 50 arranged to engage the bottom or top-liftreceiving face of the heel. The seat face engaging clamp 1nember'48 consists of a plate slotted at 52 to provide clearance .for the saw and having pivotal connections 54 with the slide 24. The clamp plate 48 is maintained rigidly in clamping position by means I of two braces 56 each of which is pivoted,

at one end of a rod 66 having a screw threaded connection with a slide bar 68 enabling the clamp member 50 to be adjusted toward and from the clamp plate 48 to accommodate different heights of heels. The slide'bar'68 rests upon a support 70 which is elevated above the plane of the slide'24 to avoid interference with the saw, the ends of the slide bar 68 extending through guideway's 72 secured to the support 70. The slide bar 68 is connected by a link 74 with a hand lever 76 by means of which the movable clamp member 50 may be manually operated. The hand lever 76 is pivoted at 7 8 to a block 80 and is secured by screws 82 to the slide 24. The screws 82 extend through the slot 84 in the block 80 permitting adjustment of the block and the pivoted screw 78 to compensate for adjustment of the movable clamp member 50.

In operation, after the centering blocks 38 and the clamp plate 48 have been adjusted to adapt them for use in centering and clamping a heel of a given size and shape, such as the Cuban heel shown in Fig. 2, the heel is placed, breast face down, upon the slide 24 between the centering blocks 38, 38 and between the clamp members 48 and 50 and the movable clamp member 50 is then moved into engagement with the heel by manipulation of the hand lever 76'. While retaining the lever 76 in position to maintain the heel clamped to the slide, theoperator, by means of the handle 30,1noves the slide rearwardly. thus moving the heel substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the saw in a straight path across the saw. The illustrated saw operates to cut in the heel breast a substantially straight narrow groove, slot, or channel G including at least two plane surfaces, the groove having uniform width, and considerable depth as well as having parallel sides as shown (Fig. 2). The heel being centered relatively to the saw, the groove will be centrally disposed transversely of the heel breast. By releasing the holding pressure exerted upon the hand lever 76, the heel may readily be removed from the slide 24' either before or after the slide has been returned to its normal position. After the slide has been returned and the grooved heel has been removed from the clamping means the device is ready for operation upon another heel. As before indicated, adjustment of the hand screws 22 determines the depth of the groove.

Although the illustrated machine has been described by reference to heel blocks it will be understood the machine may be used to form cover receiving slots or channels in the breast faces of heel blanks.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, a cutter, a heel support constructed and arranged to receive a heel by engagement with the breast thereof, and members carried by the support and constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel for locating the same upon the support 'widthwise thereof in predetermined position with reference to the cutter, said cutter and said support being mounted for movement relatively to each other to form in the breast of the heel a substantially rover-receiving depth.

straight and relatively narrow heel-coverreceiving channel of considerable depth.

2. A-inachin'e of the class 'describedhav ing, in combination, a heel support constructed; and arranged to receive a heel by engagenent with'thebreast thereof, a cutter, members constructed and'arranged'toen age opposite sides of the heel to locate the same in predetermined position with'reference to the cutter, and'means for adjusting the members w 1ich engage the sides of'the heel toward and away from each other to centralize heels of difi'erent widths, said cutter andsaidsupport beingmounted for movement'relatively to each other for forming inthe breast of the heel a straight and relatively deep and narrow channel I 3. 'Amachine of the class described havingf in combination, a support constructed and arranged to receive a heel by engagement "with the breast thereof, a cutter, members carried by the supportand constructed and arranged to, engage opposite sides of the 'heel' for locating the same in predetermined position widthwise'thereof upon the support withreferen ce to the ,cutter, said support being constructed and arranged for rectilinear movement past the cutter to form, in the breast oftheheel a straight and narrow heelchannel of considerable A; A machine of the class described having, in combination, a circular saw a heel carrier constructed and arranged to support a heel by engagement with the breast thereof, members constructed and arranged positively to" locate the heel upon the support so that its central longitudinal plane is coincident with the plane of the saw, means constructed and arranged to engage the top lift-receiving faceof'a' heel for clamping the heel to the carrier,'and a" guideway for controllingmovement of the carrier past the saw to form in the breast of the heel a heel-cover receiving channel. I!

'5. A machine of theclass described having, in combination, {i -circular saw, a heel carrierconstructed and arranged to support a heel'by 'engagement with thebreast thereof,

and members constructed and arranged posi and away from each other properly: to position upon the carrier heels of different widths. V I p r 6. Ina machine of the'class described, in

combination, a cutter constructed and arranged" to from in the. breast of a'heel'a straight andnarrow groove of considerable depth, means to operate the cutter, a vertically'adjustable table comprising a horizontally.

movable'slide, means including gages arranged to engage the vsides of the heel carried bythe slide to center the heel transversely relatively to the cutter, and means to clamp the heel to the slide and to move the slide to carry the heel to the cutter, i

' 7. In amachine of theclass described, in combination, a circular saw constructed and arranged to form in the breast of a heel a straight groove defined by sides which are substantially parallel, means for driving the circular saw, a vertically adjustable saw table comprising a stationary member and a horizontally movable slide mounted on said stationary member, means including gages arranged to engage the sides of the heel carried-by the slide to center the heel transversely relatively to thecircular saw, means toadjust the centering means for accommodating heels of difierent widths, a clamp to hold the heel in position upon the slide, and means for operating the slide to move the heel past the circular saw' for performing the heel grooving-operation. 1

- 8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a circular saw constructed and arranged to form in the breast of a heel a straight'groove having sides which'aresubstantially parallel, means for driving the circular-saw, a vertically adjustable saw table, a horizontally movable slide constituting a portionrof the table, means on the slide'for centering the heel transversely relatively to the saw, a back rest for engaging the attaching face'of the heel resting breast face down upon the slide, a member movable relatively to the back rest for engaging the top-lift-roceiving end of the heel and co-operating with movementrelatively to each other for performing the heel grooving operation, means on the work table for centering'a heel transversely relatively to the cutter, and means for clamping the heel in fixed relation to the work table by engagement with the attachand top-liftreceiving faces of the heel after it has been-centered, said means being adjustable to accommodate heels of different heights and slopes; v

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a cutter-constructed and arranged to form in the breast of a; heel a straight and narrow groove of considerable depth, a work table arranged for vertical adjustment relatively to the cutter forvarying the depth of the groove to be formed, means for centering the heel upon the work table relatively to the cutter, and meansfo'r attaching faces of diiierent w. la

clamping the heel in fixed relation to the work table by engagement with the attaching and 'top-lift-receiving faces of the heel, said means being adj'ustale to form heels of different heights or heel-attaching faces of different slopes and said work rest being movable relatively to the cutter to move the heel past the cutter for performing the heel grooving operation.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a cutter constructed and arranged to form in the breast of a. heel a .straight and narrow heel-cover-receiving channel of considerabledepth, a Work table having a slot therein for receiving the cutter, the table being constructed and-arranged for movement relatively to the cutter, means carried by the table for centering the heel trans versely thereof upon the table relatively to the cutter over the slot, means carried by the table for clamping the heel in position upon the table, means for operating the table to move the heel past the cutter for performing the heel channeling operation, and means for operating the cutter.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a cutter constructed and arranged to form in a face of a heel a substantially straight heel-cover receiving slot eX- tending heightwise of the heel, and means for supporting the heel and locating'the same in predetermined relation to the cutter, said outter and heel supporting and locating means being mounted for movement relatively to each other for performing the heel slotting operation. I 1

13. A machinefor operating upon heels having, in combination, a cutter constructed and arranged to form in a face of a heel a straight and narrow heel-cover receiving slot of substantially uniform depth, and means for supporting the heel and locating the same in predetermined relation to the cutter, said cutter and heel supporting and locating means being mounted for movement relatively to each other for performing the heel slotting operation. 7

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a cutter constructed and arranged to form in a face of a heel a substantially straight heel-cover receiving slot having a substantially fiat bottom which slot is defined by two plane side surfaces, and means for supporting the heel and locating the same in predetermined relation to the cutter, said cutter and heel supporting and locating means being mounted for movement relatively to each other for performing the heel slotting operation.

15. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a cutter constructed and arranged to form in a face of a heel a substantially straight heel-cover receiving slot, and means for supporting the heel and locating it 1n predetermined relation to the cutter, said 16. In a machine of the class described,

in combination, a circular saw constructed and arranged to form in a face of a heel a substantially straight and relatively deep and narrow slot extending heightwise of the heel which slot is defined by at least two plane surfaces, and means for supporting the heel and positively positioning the same in predetermined relation to the saw, said saw and heel supporting and locating means being mounted for movement relatively to each other for performing the heel slotting operation.

17. A channeling machine having, in combination, a carrier upon which a heel may be supported, a circular saw, abutments for positively centralizing a face of the heel upon the carrier relatively to the saw, abutments constructed and arranged to clamp the heel which is positioned widthwise of said face to the carrier, said carrier being mounted for movement past the saw to form in the face of the heel a substantially straight heel-coverreceiving channel the sides and the bottom of which are defined by plane surfaces.

18. A heel slotting machine, comprising): cutter and a carrier, one of said elements ing constructed and arranged to permit it to be moved relatively to the other in a direction to cause the cutter to form a straight heel-cover receiving slot at the center of a surface of the heel on the carrier.

19. A heel slotting machine, comprising a circular saw, and means for presenting a. heel to said saw and for moving said heel relatively to the saw in a direction to cause the saw to format the center of one of the surfaces of the heel a straight heel-cover receiving slot which extends heightwise of the heel.

20. A heel channeling machine having, in combination, a heel carrier, an elongated slot therein over which a heel may be positioned breast downwardly upon the carrier, 21. circular saw, abutments mounted upon the carrier and constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel on the carrier for positioning the breast of the heel widthwise thereof with reference to the saw upon the carrier, and means for engaging the tread face and the heel-attaching face of the heel for clamping to the carrier the heel which has been positioned upon the carrier widthwise of its breast by said abutments, said carrier being mounted for sliding movement past the circular saw to cause the slot to straddle the saw and to move the positioned heel past the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel a relatively deep and narrow heelcover-receiving channel which is coincident with the median line of the breast of the heel.

21. A channeling machine having, in combination, a carrier upon which a heel may be supported, a circular saw, abutments for centralizing a face of a heel upon the carrier with reference to the saw, abutments constructed and arranged to clamp the heel which is positioned widthwise'of said face to the carrier, said carrier being mounted for movement past the saw to form in the face of the heel a substantially straight channel the sides of which consist of two plane surfaces and the bottom of which is flat, and means for initially adjusting the carrier relatively to the saw for varying the path of movement of the carrier past the saw to control the depth of the channel formed in the face of the heel.

22. A heel channeling machine having, in combination, a heel carrier, an elongated slot therein over which a heel may be positioned breast downwardly on the carrier, a circular saw, abutments mounted upon the carrier constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of the heel on the carrier for positioning the breast of the heel upon the carrier widthwise thereof with reference to the saw, means for engaging the tread face and the attaching face of the heel for clamping to the carrier the heel which has been positioned widthwise of said surface by said abutments, said carrier being mounted for sliding movement past the circular saw to cause the slot to straddle the saw and to move the positioned heel past the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel a relatively deep and narrow heel-cover-receiving channel which is coincident with the median line of the breast of the heel, and means for initially adjusting the carrier relatively to the saw to change the path of movement of the carrier as it moves past the saw, thereby controlling the depth if the channel formed in the breast of the eel.

23. In a machine for grooving the breasts of heels, in combination, a heel support and a groove-forming tool relatively movable to form a groove in the breast of a heel on the support, and parts on the support adapted for relative movement to position the heel with respect to the groove-forming tool to insure formation of the groove in coincidence with the heightwise median line of the heel breast.

24:. In a machine for grooving the breasts of heels, in combination, groove-forming means, a carrier for supporting a heel and moving it relatively to the groove-forming means to cause a groove to be formed in the breast of the heel to receive a cover margin, and relatively movable members for positioning the heel on the carrier to insure a predetermined location of the groove in the heel breast.

25. In a machine for grooving the breasts of heels, in combination, a table, a heel carrier on the table, a rotary saw projecting through the table and through the carrier, means for guiding the carrier for sliding movement on the table at right angles to the axis-of the saw to carry a heel across the saw, and means on the carrier for positioning the heel in a predetermined relation to the saw. 26. In a machine for grooving the breasts of heels, in combination, a heelcarrier, a rotary saw projecting into the path of a heel on the carrier for forming a groove in the breast ofthe heel, means on the carrier for positioning the heel with its heightwise median line in the plane of the saw, and a support for the carrier capable of adjustment to vary the depth of the groove in the heel breast.

27. In a machine for grooving the breasts of heels, in combination, groove-forming means, a carrier for supporting a heel by engagement with its opposite lateral 1 breast edges as the heel is moved to and past the groove-forming means, a shoulder on the carrier for positioning the heel angularly in the plane of said breast edges, and a positioning device movable relatively to said shoulder and cooperating with the latter to center the heel breast transversely relatively to the groove-forming means.

28. A machine for grooving the breasts of heels having, in combination, means'to form in the breast of a heel a relatively deep and narrow groove extending heightwise of the heel, a carrier to support the heel to be grooved, means for supporting the carrier and guiding it for movement to carry the heel to and past the groove-forming device, a device for orienting the heel upon the carrier relatively to the saw to insure that the groove will extend heightwise of the heel, and means cooperating with said device to center the heel transversely thereof relatively to the groove-forming means to form in the breast of the heel a groove which is equigistlant from each of the breast edges of the 29. A heel grooving machine having, in combination, a circular saw, a table mounted for movement past the saw, an abutment and a centering device mounted for movement v with the table and also for movement relatively to each other and constructed and arranged to position a heel which is placed breast downwardly upon the table so that its lengthwise median plane will be coincident with the plane of the saw, and means for guiding the table past the saw to form in the breast of the heel positioned upon the table a heel-cover receiving groove which is coincident with the median line of the breast of the heel.

30. A heel grooving machine having, in combination, a circular saw, a table mounted for movement past the saw, an abutment and a centering device mounted for movement with the table and also for movement relatively to each other and constructed and arranged to position a heel which is placed breast downwardly upon the table so that its lengthwise median plane will be .coincident with the plane of the saw, and means for guiding. the table past the saw to form in the breast of the heel positioned upon the table a heel-cover receiving groove which is coincident with the lengthwise median plane of the heel, saidtable and said saw being relativelyadjustable to change the path of movement of the table past the saw for varying the depth of the groove formed in the breast of the heel. V I

In testimony whereof I have signed by name to this specification.

VILLIAM H. NUTT. 

